Glossary of Academic Terms
PROGRAM CHANGE: The process a student must use to change from one major course of study to another.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS: Courses that form the basis for an academic major and are essential to completing that program or meeting license or certification requirements. These courses are essential to the program and cannot be waived or substituted.
QUALITY POINT AVERAGE (Grade Point Average): The total of the student’s grade points in a semester divided by the total number of credit hours completed for that semester.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: Those academic adjustments, auxiliary aids and services, program modifications or physical access adjustments that are made to the programs, employment opportunities, activities, and services sponsored by the college to provide equal access to all otherwise qualified persons with disabilities.
REGISTRATION: The process of selecting the courses and sections of each student’s class schedule for a specific semester.
RESERVED COURSES: Courses in which enrollment is limited to those people who are matriculated into the designated degree program.
REGISTRAR: The administrator who is in charge of the Registration or Records office.
REGISTRAR’S OFFICE: The office on campus in charge of student transcripts, verifying students status at school, registering and issuing student semester schedules, grades, end of the term reports, and processing the student’s graduation certification.
SCHEDULE ADJUSTMENT: Changing courses or sections on student’s approved semester course schedule. May require the approval of the student’s academic advisor.
SECTION 504: The section of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, which requires that all institutions that receive Federal assistance must makes their programs, services and activities accessible to individuals with disabilities.
SECTIONS: Various classes of the same course in the same semester. They may have different days, times, instructors, and/or rooms, but course content will be the same.
STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT: Rules of behavior established by the college describing unsatisfactory behavior by a student. Includes rules such as those that govern use of alcohol or drugs on campus or at campus events. Violation of these published rules can result in probation or dismissal.
TRANSCRIPT: The student’s educational record. Official transcripts are sent from institution to institution or to potential employers at the student’s request and bear the seal of the College.
TTY/TDD: TeleText Type, or Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, is a device which permits individuals who are hearing or speech impaired to communicate through the use of text transmission over phone lines.
TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS:
VESID: Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities. This is New York State’s vocational rehabilitation services department for all individuals with disabilities except those who are blind.
VRS: Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
WITHDRAWAL FROM COURSE: When a student cannot continue in a course for some reason, he or she must formally withdraw from that course. The withdrawal is not finalized until the Registrar’s Office receives all necessary paperwork. Failure to complete the withdrawal process will result in F grade in the course. A student cannot withdraw beyond established dates. The student withdraws ONLY from that course or courses but remains enrolled in the rest of the courses for which he or she is registered.
WITHDRAWAL FROM COLLEGE: Formal process utilized to change the status of an active student to one who is inactive. Discontinuance of attendance, notifying instructors, or mere telephone contact with college personnel do not constitute an official withdrawal. Students remain both academically and financially responsible for all incurred expenses until the withdrawal procedure has been finalized.